The Columbus City Council on Tuesday declared two city properties menaces, re-appointed Board of Adjustment and Appeals of Development Codes board member Mickey Brislin to another three-year term and tabled a request for a sprinkler-system variance from developer Chris Chain for one of his downtown mixed-use properties.
A total of 18 derelict properties were listed in the meeting docket, but City Attorney Jeff Turnage said through cooperation with owners, 10 of those were remediated prior to the meeting. Structures at 212 20th Street South, owned by Tony Bailey, and 1513 5th Avenue North, owned by Michael Lee, as well as one debris case and six vegetation cases were declared menaces to the public health, safety and welfare.
Council faces board vacancies
Despite re-appointing Brislin to his post, the city still has several other board vacancies to fill, including three seats in the Historic Preservation Commission. That board has enough people right now to have a quorum, but there are no applicants at this time for the vacancies left by the May 16 resignation of Rachel George, the expiration of Betty Miller’s term on May 16 and the death of Columbus Public Works Director Mike Pratt last month.
Councilmen can make an appointment to the Columbus Light and Water board when they meet June 18. Andrew Colom’s five-year term expires June 30, and he is the lone applicant for that position.
Three of five people serving on the Municipal Election Commission are applying to be re-appointed, meaning two other vacancies will exist on that board once terms expire on June 30. Penesha McDowell Harrison, Keith E. Worshiam and Claude Simpson are applying for re-appointments, which can be made beginning June 18.
There are no applicants for a vacancy on the Golden Triangle Regional Solid Waste Management Authority. The appointed applicant would fill the remainder of Pratt’s term. An appointment can be made July 2.
Greg Lewis is applying to be re-appointed to the Columbus Housing Authority. His term will expire July 17. Appointments can be made until July 16. He is the only applicant.
Sprinkler variance tabled again
Councilmen once again tabled a request from developer Chris Chain asking for a variance to bypass installation of a sprinkler system at a mixed use development on Main Street. The council asked him to obtain cost estimates for installing two-inch piping on the back of the property that would provide the water needed to satisfy requirements of having the system.
Originally introducing the matter during the council’s previous meeting, Chain asked the council for relief, citing an excessive tap water fee due to the lack of a large enough line in close proximity to the building.
Columbus Fire Chief Kenneth Moore said he “has been against a variance from day one.”
“We tried to come up with a solution to give (Chain) some relief but still meet the code. That’s not possible, but I’m absolutely against the variance,” Moore said. “This issue is a Columbus Light and Water issue. It’s not a fire code issue. It’s not a building code issue. It is a Columbus Light and Water issue, and that’s where this needs to be taken up and not in a variance. The life and safety of those residents and my firefighters are a priority.”
Nathan Gregory covers city and county government for The Dispatch.
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